How To Spot Laminitis In Horses
Laminitis is a problem that all horse owners are aware of, whether you have a pony, a horse in light work, or a high-performing racehorse. In the past, overweight horses were believed to be most at risk of this condition – but as time has progressed, so has our understanding of laminitis and how it affects a horse. Below, we’ll take a closer look at laminitis, what it is and some of the signs and symptoms to look out for.
Laminitis: What is it?
First, let’s recap what this condition is, and what causes it. Laminitis occurs in the hooves of ponies and horses and can be incredibly painful and debilitating. It’s a disease that occurs within the soft tissue that connects the coffin (or pedal) bone and the wall of a horse’s hoof. This condition occurs when there’s a disruption in the blood flow to the laminae within the hoof, which as a result, can cause inflammation and damage to the structure of the foot. Laminitis can cause the tissue to separate from the bone and the hoof wall, which can result in the pedal bone rotating down through the sole of the foot.
Causes of laminitis
To help mitigate the chance of your horse suffering from laminitis, knowing the causes is advantageous. Here are a few of the most common causes of this condition:
- Metabolic Disorders: Horses that suffer from diseases such as EMS and PPID are at risk of developing this condition. This is due to the hormonal imbalances that come with the above diseases.
- Dietary factors: If a horse’s diet is high in sugar or carbs, this puts them at risk of developing laminitis – a dietary factor is often the final trigger for laminitis in a horse that has an underlying metabolic disorder.
- Obesity: Being overweight results in hormonal changes which have been described as Equine Metabolic Syndrome or EMS. A characteristic of being obese is insulin dysregulation which means the response to food is abnormal. High levels of insulin can be sufficient to trigger laminitis.
- Excessive exercise: Over-exercising on hard or rough ground can have an impact on your horse’s feet and cases of laminitis can occur as a result.
- Endotoxemia: Internal poisoning can be a cause of laminitis and is most often associated with retained placenta in brood mares or sepsis.
Signs and symptoms
There are a few common symptoms you should look out for so you can give your horse the best prognosis when it comes to this condition. You may notice your horse shifting their weight from foot to foot as it tries to alleviate the pressure from its hooves, it might also spend more time lying down. Your horse may also appear reluctant to move, especially if being made to walk over a hard surface. You may also be able to tell whether your horse is suffering from this condition by checking its hooves. The hoof may be hot to the touch, and the digital pulses – the throbbing arteries within the foot – may be more pronounced.
Reducing the risk
Laminitis can be incredibly uncomfortable and can be life-changing or even fatal and so knowing how to manage your horse to reduce the risk of this condition is essential. To do this, you should make sure your horse is a healthy weight, as the link between laminitis and overweight horses cannot be ignored, whilst also ensuring management of sugar and starch intake is controlled. To help with weight loss, dietary changes should be introduced alongside an exercise regime to suit your horse.
If your horse is on a weight loss diet, it’s best to do this in the winter. This means your horse can enter into the spring and summer months in a better position to take on the increase of calories that comes with improved grazing. In addition to this, opting for low-sugar and starch-based feeds, as well as high-fibre feeds is also advantageous for a horse that may be at risk of laminitis. High-fibre feeds are easy to digest, whilst still providing your horse with the energy it needs day to day. Remember to make dietary changes slowly over a period of 2 to 4 weeks.